Nothing to Fear... but spiders

I've been tinkering with this project while running errands, during appointments and lessons, and whenever I could fit in a few minutes. Having changed it to a single color design, DMC 310, it was very easy to work on it here and there and not worry about threads dangling every which way. This re-imagined design was a fun experiment with how a design could be completely different with just a thread and fabric swap. There's nothing to fear but fear itself and spiders. You don't need to fear changing out colors and making it fun, funky, and unique to you!

New version:
Picture This Plus 28 ct. Haunted Lugana
DMC 310
Green Tree Gallery Frame #170324
Significant changes: left the area behind the large flower un-stitched, didn't use the JABCo button.

Original Version:

28 ct. Queen Anne's Lace jobelan

Weeks Dye Works Angel Hair, Charcoal, Lancaster Red, Scuppernong, Hibiscus, Plum, Bluecoat Red

Green Tree Gallery Frame #170324, spray painted purple - same frame as above!!!

New designs are coming along swimmingly :o) I'm almost finished with the stitching of the next circle series design, and then have several others waiting for me to put the first stitches in the blank canvas of my fabric. 

Happy stitching.

New for November

I'm a little bit early for November, but you know that I cannot keep new things under wraps when I get excited about them! Heading into Christmas (it's only two months away!), this is the time of year that I am most energized about new charts and accessories. Sooooo, here we go!!!

MBT-239 Forgive Quickly ~ Another in the circle series. I have really loved these and, just last night, started stitching on the next one! They stitch up quickly and make great gifts or ornaments.

MBT-240 He Will Sustain You ~ Psalm 55:22 ~ This is a companion design to MBT-228 An Anchor for the Soul. The designs use similar colors. If you want them to be exact matches, sub out the threads in this piece in the other design and then use the same frames. The one shown here is still available from Hobby Lobby! The button accents are also charted so you can stitch them, but the buttons are sooo cute.

MBT-241 When I Survey the Wondrous Cross ~ I've missed working on the hymns and this was such a soothing piece to stitch. The song went through my head with each stitch. It perfectly fits an 8x10 frame when stitched on 32 ct. fabric.

MBT-242 Pins and Needles ~ This is the most adorable stitchy piece!!! Pins and needles, needles and pins, when one piece is finished another begins. It perfectly sums up my stitching routine, with the exception that I *finish* a design before I start a new one. Usually I have several going at once!

MBT-243 My Light and Salvation ~ Psalm 27:1 ~ The Lord is my light and my salvation. This is the third in the Psalm series, companion to MBT-233 Give Thanks to the Lord and MBT-237 Shout for Joy. The fourth is already designed and ready for me to find some stitching time! This one also has a cute little button accent - a turtle!

 New specialty fobs ~ Fall Teapots

New specialty fobs ~ Farm Life (it's a little goat, I "kid" you not), Mermaid, Unicorn, Dolphin 

New Needle Minders ~ Celtic Shield

New Needle Minders ~ Celtic Sunset

New Needle Minders ~ Eternity Knot

New Needle Minders ~ Eye See You Too

New Needle Minders ~ Goldie

New Needle Minders ~ Pawprint

My, oh, my, that was a lot of new!!! It has been a busy time but that has been good. I have new charts designed, threads and fabric pulled, so I have lots to stitch when I find those "extra" hours in the day that I know are hiding somewhere.

Life on the home front is going well. Still haven't found a place to call a more permanent home, but finding peace in the uncertainty. Doodlebug has been taking jobs as a piano accompanist, which has been fun, and she is leading some worship on guitar at bible study. Today she will officially finish tenth grade and it is amazing how fast it is all going by. Praising each day for family, friends, and fellowship.

One of the upcoming designs pulls from Jeremiah 17:7-8, about the blessing of trusting in the Lord and having confidence in Him. When the heat (trials) come the tree's leaves remain green, it is not anxious in drought and never ceases to bear fruit. It is scripture that I am clinging to in this season and it has been a blessing to me.

Many happy stitches to you :o)

October is here!

It is a beautiful thing when the forecast in Texas shows a steady temperature drop :o) Fall is officially here and the leaves on the trees are starting to turn. Mostly they go from green to brown, and then they make chores for me to do.

The day has started early for me. For the record, when you are cleaning bathrooms and doing laundry at 3:30 because you can't sleep, your children will not arise and call you blessed. There are many other things to be called but blessed isn't anywhere on that list. That whole Proverbs 31 things is great unless everyone else wants to sleep in. So I've gone on to quieter pursuits and that includes a little update.

In preparation for all of the accessory trunk shows and sales that seem to happen right around this time of year, I have been working on oodles of inventory! Most recently in the line of updates has been my needle threader assortment, both with and without clasp. I found a new supplier of beautiful beads and both varieties are bigger, brighter and better!

New thread pickers are in progress and I have stunning new varieties for the thread keeps and needle minders. Coming soon!!!

New releases are ready... sort of. I still have two designs to frame and get the chart covers ready. My plan is for release in a couple of weeks and the only way I can keep from releasing them early is to not have them ready. Seriously, I have no self control when it comes to designs that I think are amazing and wonderful and fun and need to be out and stitched right now! :o) See you with new charts in a few-ish weeks!

New accessories for September!

It is one of my favorite times of year - Gingher time! Each year Gingher releases a designer series scissor and this year they are very unique compared to year's past. Juniper is the name this go around, and they are decorated with the most beautiful soft greens for the leaves, two shades of blue for the berries, with mocha colored stems. I have both long and mini fobs available and they come standard with an oversize stork scissor charm.

Also coming out this month are some more varied thread keeps! If you love this accessory, as I do, then you would love the assortment that I have for the trunk shows. There aren't enough hours to update the website with all available, but I have dogs and cats and flowers and monograms and sports and more flowers and more cats and, well just more! Interested in something special? Just ask. These dried flower thread keeps were just too pretty to not picture.

Stitching time has been very limited for this past month, but that means there are new accessories in the works! Next month I will have some new needle minders that are out of this world beautiful (think Celtic knots and stunning colors) and a new seven-pin set.

One of my fun projects has been Nothing to Fear on Picture This Plus fabric. The fabric is amazing! I haven't stitched on it before but I now have a dozen or so colors to choose from in the future and look forward to using them. This one is 28 ct. "Haunted" with black DMC.

 Hopefully I will make some progress on this one and it will be ready for the 2020 trunk show!

September 2019 New Designs

I'm a couple of days away (early, of course) from the official release on September 1, but I just have to share! These new designs have been so much fun and I've brought back a little bit of snarkiness and a whole lot of sassy :o)

MBT-234 Prince of Peace

This is my first Christmas design in a long time. The Celtic style knot pattern provides a beautiful border for scripture from Isaiah 9:6. His will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. The frame is done custom by a local framer and I'm really happy with her work. The model is stitched on 32 ct. linen with Gentle Art Sampler Threads.

MBT-235 God With You

Another in the square floral border series, God With You has selections from Deuteronomy 31:6. The Lord your God goes with you, He will never leave you or forsake you. The model is stitched on 28 ct. jobelan with Weeks Dye Works thread. Frame by East Side Frames. It is a companion design to MBT-183 Trust in Him, MBT-192 Hope and a Future, MBT-211 My Soul Finds Rest, and MBT-219 Still Waters.

MBT-236 Marriage

And we are back to sassy :o) Marriage lets you annoy one special person every day for the rest of your life. I think that may say it all! lol The chart includes an alphabet and numbers to personalize it with the initials of you and spouse, or another happy couple. It would be great as either a wedding or anniversary piece. I fully believe that laughter is a necessary part of life and it's great when we can laugh along with a partner for life. Model stitched on 28 ct. jobelan with Weeks Dye Works thread. Frame by Studio Decor.

MBT-237 Shout for Joy

I've been spending some time in the Psalms and this is the second in a new series. The sweet flowers and adorable butterfly are a lovely accent for Psalm 100:1 Shout for joy to the Lord all the earth. The butterfly is charted if you choose not to use the button, but the button is really really cute! Model stitched on 28 ct. jobelan with Weeks Dye Works thread. Frame by East Side Frames, Button by Just Another Button Company. Companion design to MBT-233 Give Thanks to the Lord.

MBT-238 Cat Crazy

The chicken people shouldn't have all the fun. Just one cat short of crazy - that says it all. I remember one of the girls at my craft group asking me how many cookies she could have during snack time. My response was that she could have one less than would make her mom upset. So, as with chickens, we will always have one less than would qualify us as crazy. Model stitched on 28 ct. jobelan with Weeks Dye Works thread. Frame by Green Tree Gallery. For fun, you can easily change the thread colors to perfectly fit the felines in your family! Even more fun - add a button! Just Another Button Company has some adorable cat buttons.

Life has been full of good things. Yes, there are challenges and struggles, but if we approach them all as being for our good it definitely changes the perspective. God has shown us in little ways that we are exactly where we are supposed to be. Still wondering about the next steps, but content to be in fellowship and serving where we are at. Doodlebug continues with piano concerts and schooling. Today she woke up, did chores, and did a deep clean of her room without being asked. I'm torn between being grateful and suspicious ;o)

Look for more new designs in a couple of months... if I can wait that long. They're all ready to go and each one has special meaning to me. I have lots of work to catch up on with accessory inventory (new thread hopper colors are heading out to shops, the thread keeps are doing well and the new needle minders are a ton of fun) but I hope to work in some stitching time.

August 2019 Accessories

I've been working hard for the past month on oodles of accessories that are sure to tempt. My new Juniper Gingher scissors have arrived but I need some good daylight to be able to make the perfect matching fobs, so those will be another day or three out. They are beautiful and I can't wait to find the best Swarovski colors and accent beads to delightfully decorate your scissors. For today, though, I have rulers and needle minders galore!

Cotton Candy Needle Minder:

 Eye See You Needle Minder:

 Flamingo Frolic Needle Minder:

 Ladybug Parade Needle Minder:

 Mariana Needle Minder:

 Paris Needle Minder:

 Purple Nebula Needle Minder:

 Ruby (Hummingbird) Needle Minder:

 Sassy Unicorn Needle Minder:

For the rulers, these are a very small assortment from each mix of pictures. They are some of my favorite, and a good reflection of what is available, but each style has a dozen or more different ones. As always, I'm glad to take any of the larger images for the regular needle minders and put them atop these radiant rulers.

Butterflies Rulers:

 Crayonbox Florals Rulers:

 Bold Geometric Rulers:

 Mod Birds Rulers:

 Mod Cat Rulers:

 Muted Monet Rulers:

 Trees Rulers:

That was a lot of new sparkles to get through! I hope you find something that is perfect to add to your stitching supplies.

Life here has been challenging for these past few weeks. Our dear and beloved golden retriever passed away. She was only 7.5 years old and declined quickly from a previously undiagnosed brain tumor. We lost her a couple of weeks ago and it broke my heart. I was never a dog person until her, and now I can't imagine a better furry friend to have (don't tell the cat). The house is quiet, the vacuum is working far less to keep up with fur, and it just isn't the same. Prompted by that loss, Doodlebug and I did a quick trip to visit friends and family in Idaho. It was amazing to see so many who are dear to us and be able to surprise them. It did cement that our home is now Texas and we will continue to settle in to the community by serving however we can.

On a happier note (and returning to work news), new chart releases will be out in a couple of weeks! They are printed and awaiting my attention to get them packaged and ready to head to the shops. There will be FIVE new releases!!! There will be a Celtic knot style Christmas piece with scripture from Isaiah, scripture from Deuteronomy with a stitched floral frame, something snarky for the married people out there, a companion to the recent "Give Thanks to the Lord" design, AND something fun for the cat lovers!

New for July 2019

Yep, it happened. My August releases became my July releases because I have no willpower whatsoever. None. Zero. Zip. My only inkling of self control is that only three are released, instead of the eight that are ready and I want to share... now (but I won't because that just seems excessive :o) )

MBT-231 Treasure Family

Just in time for Thanksgiving stitching, this circle series design about family is shown in beautiful fall harvest colors. My thoughts on family - you make them wherever you go. There is the family you are born into and the one you create based on love. This would be a beautiful gift for any of those who are family to you. It is stitched in three colors of Gentle Art Sampler Threads, but would be lovely in any that you choose to make it personal to you.

MBT-232 Wait in Hope

I just love this series of designs. This scripture from Psalm 33:20 is "We wait in hope for the Lord." It is stitched in vibrant colors by Weeks Dye Works and is perfectly matched to a frame by East Side Frames. When stitched on 35 ct. linen it will fit comfortably in a standard 5x7 frame.

MBT-233 Give Thanks to the Lord

Oh, goodness, this was one of my favorite to stitch out of this batch. It was such a favorite that it pushed three other charts to the end of the pile for release! It's bright, cheerful, happy, and in a series from the Psalms that is sure to bring you joy. It is adorably accented with a little sheep button from JABC, but the sheep also has a stitched version if you prefer that one (and additional DMC thread needs). The frame is by East Side Frames, Crazy Daisy, and there are already TWO companion designs ready for the next couple of batches of releases!!! Next release has a butterfly button!

I was a bit late in updating the website with new designs because I had the greatest joy in attending a stitching retreat. It was the first one I've been to that was hosted by a shop, and it was wonderful. I met 50+ other stitchers and spent three days indulging in treats, having someone else cook, and laughing harder than I have laughed in a very long time. Since the move I have been struggling with feeling connected and this was medicine for the soul.

Soon to come will be MORE new releases (next batch will have the Christmas piece, the next happy square piece, encouragement from Deuteronomy, and something snarky about marriage) and if I have any amount of control then look for them at the beginning of September. I'm forced to have some restraint because one of them has to have a custom size frame done and it will be a couple of weeks for it to be back with me.

Keep stitching!!!

More June fun!

New releases have been going well (thank you!) and life has been very busy with family, church, and VBS. I've been meaning to share some new frame options for the circle series designs. The frames I used were discontinued (aauugghh!) but I have found some beautiful round frames that are currently available (yay!!!).

Shown are two of the finishes. The bottom right, Share Laughter, is in the frame I use for the covers. The upper left, Cherish Friends, is a frame available from Inline Ovals. The frame that will fit this design in a snug way, on 32 ct. fabric, is #871 Rubbed Black 5x5. If you prefer a bit more fabric showing around the stitching, then go with the 6x6. They have different colors and finishes, and they are lovely. It is a bit wider, but it definitely makes the stitching pop!  

Other news - I'm waaaay ahead on models for new releases. I don't know that I will be able to wait until August to release them :o) What makes it worse is that I have more new designs ready to stitch and am so excited about those that I don't think I will be able to hold onto those until December!!! It has never happened before that I have been so far ahead.

A few weeks ago we went hiking in hill country and, on the way home, I had the joy of visiting Stitches From the Heart in San Antonio. This shop is amazing! They have a great assortment of my designs and I just giggled at seeing them all. Their thread selection is amazing and the variety they had in everything was so much fun. They have a stitch in every Tuesday, with lots of table space, comfy chairs, and great lighting to enjoy.

This next month I get to go to a stitching retreat and I am looking forward to the time with other people who are just as addicted to thread and sparkly things as I am. I haven't been to one in at least a decade and that was such a neat event. 

This finish was emailed to me this week from Rachel D. Isn't it lovely? She was creative with the threads and did the leaves in green. It was framed at Hobby Lobby with a scrolled molding that I think is the perfect accent. Great work!

Keep an eye out for new charts to be coming out as soon as I can't possibly stand it anymore! I'm stitching a Christmas piece with a Celtic knot style border and am determined that it be in with the next releases. Each night I just want one more stitch... 

New for June 2019!

It has been a busy past month in our corner of the world. Settling into Texas is going okay. I had some mom friends from Idaho fly down to visit for a few days, with my parents arriving just a couple days later, then it was back to hiking trips and exploring the beautiful area around us. Recently we visited hill country, stopping by Lost Maples and Garner state parks. It was so beautiful!

Work stuff has been incredibly busy, but good. Here are the new designs that are now available through your favorite shop:

MBT-227 Quaker Endurance
This is the fourth in the Quaker scripture series that I have been working on for eleven years. I got distracted :o) This piece features Isaiah 40:8 "The grass withers and the flower fades but the word of our God endures forever." This past year has been a lesson in holding onto everything with an open hand, and this verse reminds me that it is His word that I should cling to as the rest of my world changes. Model stitched with Weeks Dye Works on 32 ct. linen and accented by East Side Frames. There will be more in this series (as soon as I can find where I hid that stitching time).

MBT-228 An Anchor for the Soul
I can't adequately put into words how much this design means to me. A dear, dear, dear (she is an amazing woman and great encourager!) friend had a deep loss in her family and asked for this verse to be charted. It is a scripture that we both cling to and take comfort in. "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul firm and secure. Hebrews 6:19" Model stitched with Weeks Dye Works on 32 ct. hand dyed jobelan and Just Another Button Company buttons in a Green Tree Gallery frame. This will have a companion design that is also beach themed.

MBT-229 Share Laughter
This is the fifth in the circle series and I love the colors and the flowers and the message of life: laugh! And more than just laugh, laugh with friends! One of the hiccups with this design is that the frame I used was discontinued shortly after release. I have found a round frame that works great with this design. It is by Inline Ovals, #871 Rubbed Black. There are two options for size: the 5x5 will be a very snug fit and the 6x6 will be a more comfortable fit. The sixth in this series is already set for the next batch of releases!

MBT-230 Chicken Crazy
When I hosted the craft group at our last home, we would have treats out each month and the girls could snack and chat after they finished their projects. One of the girls asked how many cookies she could have and my response was "one less than would make your mom upset." This is how I see chicken ownership. I will always have one less hen than would make me certifiable. I miss my hens. We could have filled a semi with store bought eggs with what we put into our last coops, but the joy from seeing the little feather friends running around the yard is priceless. As we look to our next stop in Texas, top wish is room for chickens. The model is stitched with Weeks Dye Works on 28 ct. linen. This is a companion design to MBT-153 Hens and Chicks and MBT-222 Fowl Friends.

I'm at a weird place in my design life. I'm ahead. I have the next eight designs planned out, all are either completely finished or in the middle of being stitched, and the frames are already on hand. There isn't as much sass as there is scripture, and there will even be a Christmas piece! The goal is for August release for the next batch, but I'm so excited about them being pretty and ready to go that I don't know if I'll be that patient :o)

Enjoy your x's!